(January 2014)--Maine Television Personality and Pageant Veteran Shawn Cunningham will represent Maine at the National Ms. Woman of Achievement Competition in California as Ms. Maine Woman of Achievement 2014.
Shawn Cunningham is an Anchor/Reporter for WAGM-TV. Shawn is also the station's health correspondent for "Medical Mondays". In 2011, Shawn was honored to become the TV Host of a new public affairs program airing on WAGM-TV and partnered with Cary Medical Center called “Healthy Hearts, Healthy Community” with Shawn Cunningham. The program is made possible by a grant from the AstroZeneca Healthcare Foundation. This year Shawn and the tv program were honored with a 2012 Communicator Award for Outstanding Medical/Health series. Along with that, Shawn was excited to hear she is the recipient of two 2012 Maine Association of Broadcaster’s Awards in Journalism, her fourth and fifth. Her series “Medical Mondays” was honored with an outstanding Public Affairs in television award. Shawn is also the web host of a new online health series called “Healthful Hints with Shawn Cunningham.” In 2010, Shawn was awarded the prestigious Blue Cross/Blue Shield Health Foundation’s National Health Media Fellowship.
Since joining WAGM, she has received several numerous awards including the Aegis Media Awards, three Maine Association of Broadcasters and two Telly Awards. Shawn has also won awards from the National Federation of Press Women. Some of Shawn's stories have appeared on CBS Newspath, Maine Public Broadcasting and CNN Network.
Shawn is a Past President of the Maine Federation of Business and Professional Women and was three times named by the organization as Maine Young Career Woman of the Year including 2012. Shawn represented Maine at the National Young Career Women’s Conference in Peabody, MA and participated in a national young career women’s roundtable. In May 2012, Shawn was honored as a Young Career Woman of the Year for the National Association of Professional Women and attended their national career networking conference in New York City.
Shawn is currently involved with several community service projects in Northern Maine including Board Memberships of the PI Chamber of Commerce, Momentum Aroostook and the Presque Isle Kiwanis Club. She is also a committee chair for the PI Kiwanis Club, Caribou BPW and Team WAGM for the Aroostook County Branch of the American Cancer Society Relay for Life and the Walk for Care.
Shawn's Platform: "The Business of Service”
Shawn will compete at the National Woman of Achievement Competition in November. I’ve not rested on my laurels or wasted a day ONE BIT. I’ve used the time since I was selected to compete in this incredible arena for working women to make every moment count, being PROACTIVE and putting PASSION and PURPOSE to this platform. I believe service IS THE way to develop leadership skills on and off the job. “My platform is about cultivating corporate partnerships (the business sector) with civic organizations to coalition and promote service opportunities that strengthen our workforce and above all else strengthen a resolve to build stronger communities. It’s worked for me. I’ve volunteered since I was in high and college and its made a positive difference in my life, setting me a part as a leader who is defined not just by words…but by action. I’ve impacted and changed lives…starting first with my own….to know and understand that everyone has a civic responsibility to give back, take part and take ownership of the communities in which we all live. And when you volunteer, when you make service as much a priority as getting ahead, YOU DO GET AHEAD. You become a leader, you develop networking skills, a positive sense of self and self confidence, you sharpen your communication skills, you stand taller and shine brighter, because the leader within you is being refined. Again, these aren’t just my words, its my self testimony…of a girl from the inner city Bronx who developed into a state and nationally recognized leader.”
Last March 2013, Shawn competed in the Mrs. Corporate America Competition representing Maine and earning two national awards including National Community Service and the National AD Sales Awards. She also placed third runner up. In June 2012, Shawn was also crowned the first ever Mrs. Aroostook County. Her initiative for her year of service in that program is:
Promoting Antibullying “Don’t BULLY-ieve The Hype…Being YOU is the Best Way To Defeat A Bully”
This platform is about promoting a countywide school effort on self appreciation and coming together against bullying. The goal is to encourage, engage and educate young people in the knowledge that the best way to defeat bullying is a strong sense of self, promoting self awareness and self confidence. That everyone has a voice and its important that voice be heard. And that feeling comfortable in one’s own skin is a basic human right. Bullying is a clear violation of that civil human right. I plan on doing this through a countywide school campaign, speaking engagements and creating some community events. I’m hoping this title will give me a bigger platform to forge ahead.
Shawn has the distinction of being included in several outstanding registries including Marquis Who’s Who Among Outstanding Professional Women, Biltmore Who’s Who In America and Black America’s Who’s Who. Shawn also belongs to many professional organizations including Business and Professional Women’s Clubs/USA, RTNDA, NABJ, SPJ and the National Federation of Press Women.
For more information about Shawn’s efforts, how she promotes her platform “The Business of Service” or to view her year in service check out Shawn’s social media links:
